The
Alleghany Mining District is dotted with old mines, some long since
abandoned, others awaiting to be reborn. The Ophir Mine, located on Kanaka
Creek is named after the "biblical land of gold", thus a pretty
popular name for a mine. Kanaka Creek can be found on maps dating back to
1857. "Kanaka" was a common destination for a native of the
Hawaiian Islands. Sailors from Hawaii (called "Kanakas") who
jumped ship in San Francisco and mined in this area in 1852 are the source
of the name of this creek that flows into the middle fork of the Yuba
River.

The Ophir
Quartz Mine shows up in 1885 with Wood and Williams as the owners, then
again in 1932 with H. G. Ferguson and R. W. Gannett as the owners. Unfortunately,
I couldn't find much else in the books concerning this historic mine.